Massaging machine



March 18, 1952 E. M. ARCHER MASSAGING MACHINE 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Nov. 14, 1949 M m w m E. M. ARCHER MASSAGING MACHINE March 18, 1952 '2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Nov. 14, 1949 lmlmlmlmllifl Patented Mar. 18, 1952 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MASSAGING MACHINE Edna Mae Archer, Los Angeles, Calif. Application November 14, 1949, Serial No. 127,135

9 Claims. (01. 12836) My invention relates to massaging machines and included in the objects of my invention are:

First, to provide a massaging machine which is uniquely contoured to facilitate its use for many massaging operations, and facilitate spot massaging of various parts of the body.

Second, to provide a massaging machine which is easily manipulated and capable of successful use in the hands of an unskilled operator or in some instances by the person undergoing treatment.

Third, to provide a massaging device which is in the form of a portable self-contained unit.

With the above and other objects in view as may appear hereinafter, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front and top perspective view of my massaging machine.

Figure 2 is a bottom and side perspective view thereof.

Figure 3 is an elevational view thereof.

Figure 4 is a partial sectional plan view taken through 4-4 of Figure 3.

. Figure 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view thereof taken through 55 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken through E6 of Figure 4.

My massaging device includes a shell 5 comprising parallel side walls 2, end walls 3, which curve downwardly and outwardly away from each other, and a bottom wall 4 which is arched with its extremities in substantial parallelism and adjacent to the lower extended extremities of the end walls 3. The extremities of the end walls and the bottom walls form arms 5. These walls are covered with padding 6, preferably of sponge rubber and preferably corrugated or otherwise divided into rudimentary ridges and channels. The extremities of the arms 5 receive caps 1, formed of sheet metal. The caps are rounded and extend beyond the arms. It is preferred that the caps be slightly greater in diameter than the thickness of the arms at their extremities so that in profile a rounded or bulbous form is provided.

The upper end of the shell I is closed by a cover plate 8 which is preferably in the form of two cylindrical segments joined together to form a central transverse channel 9, flanked by cylindrical portions Ill.

The side walls 2 are likewise covered with padding II which need not be as thick or as resilient as the padding 6. padding may comprise a leather or fabric covering and an underlying layer of cotton or the In this case the.

2 like. The margins of the caps 1 and cover 8 overlie the paddings 6 and l l, to hold the padding in place. Suitable screws extending into the shell I secure the caps and cover.

The shell I defines a motor cavity in which is mounted an electric motor 52 rigidly supported by framework 13 welded or otherwise secured to the shell l. The motor is provided with a shaft which carries an eccentrically located weight member M which when rotated by the motor causes vibration of the entire massaging machine. The motor may be controlled by a. switch l5 mounted in one of the caps l. Vent holes 16 and ll are provided in the caps l and cover 8, to minimize excessive heating of the motor.

The shape or contour of my massaging machine is of utmost importance. The machine is used in all positions. For example, the two caps l may be held in the hands and the machine manipulated so as to bring the cover 8 into contact with the patients back. The machine is then moved up and down the spine. The channel 9 clears the protuberances of the backbone and the cylindrical portions Iii bear against the muscular tissue on either side. Another use involves placing the machine on the floor, preferably on padding. The cover 6 in this case is used to massage the feet, in which case the patient moves his feet forward and backward crosswise to the channel 9. Still further, the machine may be inverted so that it rests on one of the caps l and on the cover 8, in which case the patient may recline, his back extending longitudinally with respect to the normal bottom wall t. A pillow 01' other padding may be interposed if desired. In this position the patient may arch his neck over the raised cap, so as to massage the shoulders and neck.

The curved end walls a are so contoured that they fit the leg between the knee and thigh. In this case, one of the end Walls is placed against the leg and the machine may be moved longitudinally of the leg as well as about the leg, so as to massage any selected area. In this case, as in other cases, the caps I serve as handles. An alternative of this method involves placing one of the arms 5 between the legs so that one leg engages the normally bottom wall 4 and the other leg engages the corresponding end wall 3.

Further use of the machine may involve placing the machine on one side wall with the cover 8 against a suitable abutment, preferably padded by a pillow. In this case the patient is seated in front of the machine and the buttocks and lower back are placed against the bottom Wall 4. A variation of this is to place the patient on his abdomen and use the machine crosswise with the bottom wall A in contact with the patient In this position massaging may proceed from the ankles over the entire leg as well as the back. This arrangement is particularly satisfactory for massaging the buttocks, or the patient may be placed on his back and the machine placed on his abdomen.

The foregoing are but a few of the many ways in which the machine is employed. It will be observed that the concave or arched bottom wall 4, the curved end walls 3, the rounded caps 1 and the split cylinder form of cover 8, all function to permit use of the machine for a wide variety of massaging operations, many of which may be performed by the patient himself.

Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the details herein set forth, but my invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

.1. A massaging device, comprising: a shell defining a motor cavity; a motor and eccentric mass rotatable thereby mounted in said cavity to vibrate said shell; and arms directed laterally in opposite directions from one side of said shell in obtuse relation to define a concave massaging arch, said arms defining with other sides of said shell other concave massaging surfaces of lesser radius than said arched surface.

2. A massaging device, comprising: a shell presenting an external contour including a concave bottom side, concave ends merging into substantial parallelism with the extremities of the bottom side to form curved obtusely related arms, and a rounded top side joining said arms, the central portion of said shell defining a motor cavity; and a vibrating means in said cavity to impart vibration to said shell, said concave bottom side, said rounded top side, and said arm all forming massaging surfaces.

3. A massaging device, comprising: a shell presenting an external contour including a concave bottom side, concave end merging into substantial parallelism with said bottom side to form obtusely related arms, a top side formed by cylindrical segments, and a channel between said segments, said cylindrical segments merging into tangency with said ends; and means contained within said shell for vibrating said shell including said arms.

4. A massaging device, comprising: a shell including a concave bottom member, concave end members having extremities disposed in substantial parallelism with each other and curving therefrom away from each other until their remaining extremities are in substantial parallelism with said bottom member; a cover joining the first extremities of said end members, said cover being in the form of cylindrical segments separated by an intervening channel; substantially semi-cylindrical end guards covering the extremities of said bottom member and corresponding extremities of said members; and means contained within said shell for vibrating said shell.

5. A massaging device, comprising: a hollow shell presenting an external contour including a concave bottom side, concave ends merging into substantial parallelism with the extremities of the bottom side to form curved obtusely related arms, and a rounded top side joining said arms, the central portion of said shell structure defining a motor cavity; a vibrating means in said cavity to impart vibration to said shell; said concave bottom side, said rounded topside, and

said arms forming massaging surfaces of different contour; and padding covering and conforming to the contour of at least portions of said massaging surfaces.

6. A massaging device, comprising: a shell presenting an external contour including a concave bottom side, concave ends merging into substantial parallelism with said bottom side to form obtusely related arms, a top side formed by cylindrical segments, and a channelbetween said segments, said cylindrical segments merging into tangency with said ends; means contained within said shell for vibrating said shell including said arms; and padding covering and conforming to the contour of at least portions of said shell.

'7. A massaging device, comprising: a shell including a concave bottom member, concave end members having extremities disposed in substantial parallelism with each other and curving therefrom away from each other until their remaining extremitie are in substantial parallelism with said bottom member; a cover joining the first extremities of said end members, said cover being in the form of cylindrical segments separated by an intervening channel; substantially semi-cylindrical end guards covering the extremities of said bottom member and corresponding extremities of said members; means contained within said shell for vibrating said shell; and padding covering and conforming to the contour of said bottom and end members, said cover and said guards being unpadded.

8. A massaging device, comprising: a shell including a concave bottom member, concave end members having extremities disposed in substantial parallelism with each other and curving therefrom away from each other until their remaining extremities are in substantial parallelism with said bottom member; a cover joining the extremities of said end members, said cover being in the form of cylindrical segments separated by an intervening channel; substantially semi-cylindrical end guards covering the extremities of said bottom member and corresponding extremities of said end members; said shell defining a .central motor cavity; a motor mounted in said cavity; and an eccentric weight rotatable by said motor.

9. A massaging device, comprising: a shell including a concave bottom member, concave end members having extremities disposed in substantial parallelism with each other and curving therefrom away from each other until their remaining extremities are in substantial parallelism with said bottom member; a cover joining the extremities of said end members, said cover bein in the form of cylindrical segments separated by an intervening channel; substantially semicylindrical end guards covering the extremities of said bottom member and corresponding extremities of said end members; said shell defining a central motor cavity; a motor mounted in said cavity; an eccentric weight rotatable by said motor; and padding covering and conforming to the contour of said bottom and end members, said cover and said guards being unpadded.

EDNA MAE ARCHER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent".

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,885,575 Banks Nov. 1, 1932 2,198,872 Hegstrom Apr. 30, 1940 479,374; Great Britain Feb. 4, 1938 

